Don't treat it like a trend?

TPO - Many students and international students believe that even after preparing for exams or obtaining foreign language proficiency certificates, continuous practice and improvement of skills are still necessary. English is not difficult; students just need to invest time and effort and have an environment to practice.

TPO - Many students and international students believe that even after preparing for exams or obtaining foreign language proficiency certificates, continuous practice and improvement of skills are still necessary. English is not difficult; students just need to invest time and effort and have an environment to practice.

It depends on the learner's effort.

Le Vu Anh Thu, a former student of La Trobe University (Australia), shared that since childhood, she was fortunate enough to have her mother take her to Singapore and Thailand to play, learn, and observe. In particular, during a trip to Thailand, her mother showed her many young foreigners aged 13-14 who, despite not being fluent in English, still traveled the world . She realized that you don't need to be fluent in English; just being confident is enough to communicate effectively.

In high school, before going abroad to study, Thu's maternal grandfather showed her how to learn a foreign language: read stories, watch movies in English, and especially listen to news and podcasts in English. That way, she truly learned which words and phrases were commonly used.

Nguyen Ngoc Quynh, currently studying at Drexel University in Philadelphia (USA), believes that the increasing number of people sending their children to learn English stems from a realization of its importance, and gradually, learning English has become a trend.

According to Ngoc Quynh, the reason she scored well on the exam and used English for her studies and life abroad wasn't because of exam preparation at a center, but because she had loved watching videos on YouTube since she was a child and learned a lot through passive channels.

On the other hand, Quynh also often reads stories in English to improve her vocabulary and word usage in sentences.

Luong Minh Khue, a former student who studied in the US and Poland, said that everyone needs to know their goals when studying in order to make an effort to acquire knowledge. They might start studying with the goal of preparing for exams, but after the exams are over, they need to continuously improve their skills.

"In my opinion, learning English isn't difficult; it just requires real time and effort. However, the effort largely depends on the learner. If the learner doesn't have a clear goal and doesn't have a passion for English, it's difficult to master the language," Khue said.

Minh Khue also believes that the ultimate goal of a certificate is not just the score, but also the assessment of language proficiency. Currently, the IELTS exam has a very specific test-taking method that is not practically applicable to university studies, both domestically and internationally. Vocabulary and sentence structures considered "high-scoring" and widely shared in IELTS information sources are not highly valued at higher levels of education.

"At the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, what students and researchers need is critical thinking, knowledge, and reasoning skills. IELTS preparation can help to some extent, but the learning methods currently used in many places in Vietnam don't serve practical applications," Khue said.

According to this international student, immersing children in an English-speaking environment is a lifelong commitment. If children love English, they can find and create their own learning environment. In reality, not every family has the financial means to invest in expensive language centers with native English-speaking teachers for their children.

However, while there are many sources of information and materials parents can provide for their children, these need to be carefully selected to be age-appropriate. It remains important to emphasize that learners need to be self-directed in interacting with the materials.

It is necessary to introduce English as a second language in schools.

Mr. Nguyen Nhat Hung, co-founder and CEO of SocioLogic Debate and Critical Thinking Company, said that making English the second language in schools is a very practical goal.

According to Mr. Hung, firstly, English will be implemented systematically within the education system. Curriculums and learning materials will be carefully and thoughtfully developed. Teachers, especially young and dynamic ones, will have more opportunities to be recruited and integrated into the education system from primary to high school, helping to rejuvenate the workforce and promote change and language acquisition among students, particularly in terms of culture, as many young teachers have experience working in English-speaking countries.

This ensures that all students, regardless of economic or geographical background, have equal opportunities to learn and practice a foreign language from their early years of schooling.

Secondly, English will no longer be just a subject that students need to learn to get good grades and pass, but will become a tool to access other subjects, international resources, and learning materials. When exposure to English becomes essential, needed every time they go to school to understand lectures, students will gradually build the habit of using English in the most natural way.

Students will no longer face significant difficulties translating a word or sentence from Vietnamese to English; instead, they will understand the language naturally, like a native speaker. This is a strength that can only be fostered by a policy of making English the second official language in schools.

Children should be allowed to learn English in the most natural way possible.

"When sending children to learn a foreign language, parents need to be realistic about their expectations, avoid putting pressure on them, and focus on helping children learn and develop naturally, fostering a love for it," shared Luong Minh Khue, a former student who studied in the US and Poland.

Do Hop

Source: https://tienphong.vn/hoc-tieng-anh-dung-coi-nhu-mot-trao-luu-post1686578.tpo